Dec 30, 2015 | By Andre
One of the few certainties in life is death. We are practically raised from birth with the notion that a time will come when our animated selves will - in a physical sense at the very least - simply cease to exist. While this isn’t something anybody necessarily looks forward to, some control of what becomes of our remains stays in the hands of the deceased or their loved ones.
Traditionally, burials have been the most popular choice and this remains the case today; yet according to International Cremation Statistics, cremation is on the rise in most countries and is set to overtake burial rates in the USA by 2017. So really it’s not too surprising that Urns for Ashes, a supplier for all things cremation, has been finding it difficult to stay stocked up with their 3D printed Darth Vader and Death Star urns. Star Wars mania has once again resurfaced after all.
According to reports, inquiries into the purchase of these urns were up over 300 percent since early November as build up to the release of the hotly anticipated sequel went into high gear. Unfortunately, they are both out of stock. Fortunately, they are 3D printed and this allows for the usual assortment of customization that the technology excels at.
The site suggests custom colour and size options are available to suit your needs, are lightweight and are delivered free by tie fighter (additional costs for international shipping). Not bad for the £150.00 ($222USD) advertised price point.
Also, Urns for Ashes owner Darren Williams suggests the spike in business has “led to some crazy inquiries too. People want superhero urns, landmark urns (like football stadium urns), really specific car urns and a lady this week actually asked if I could create a life-size replica of her dog that passed away.” And it seems like they’re listening to these requests as a Princess Leia urn is already being advertised on their website (also out-of-stock).
From a technical perspective, it’s difficult to decipher what 3D printing method was used for the Death Star and Darth Vader urns based on the photos provided. If I had to guess, I'd say they were 3D printed in nylon as the resolution and print difficulty would make it inefficient to print using the more typically available FDM machines. When considering the full-colour nature of the Leia figurine, I wouldn’t hesitate in suggesting a full-colour Projet series printer by 3D Systems was used.
However, to many, the bigger question might be what one should engrave onto the base of the urn. Considering the theme of the product, Darren Williams suggests the following Yoda quote from “Revenge of the Sith” is fitting:
"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is."
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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can you make a Yoda Urn?
mike bogni wrote at 9/22/2018 4:58:22 AM:
trying to get some info about the Darth Vader urn. no email or contact info on urn for ashes. or any place else any assistance would be appreciated. mbogni53@gmail.com
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